Category: Obedience

3 John 1-4

Some of the greetings in the epistles of the New Testament are wonderful expressions of praise to the faithful. This is a grand example of such a commendation.

Gaius was an exceptional Christian. John’s words were not false flattery. These are inspired words, and Gaius here received praise from the Holy Spirit.

What was Gaius commended for? He walked in truth! Where many today put little emphasis on the truth of God, Gaius was notable because of his allegiance to it. As John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (vs. 4).

Here is the key. Gaius not only familiarized himself with God’s truth, but he walked in it. He was obedient to it. He lived his life by it. “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).

Much of the religious world claims a “personal relationship with God.” They then attempt to self-define that relationship, rather than realizing such a relationship is dependent upon God recognizing their standing before Him. This sermon details what is necessary to have such an intimacy with the Almighty.

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Jeroboam convinced the Northern Tribes that it was too much to ask them to return to Jerusalem to worship God. Instead he fashioned golden idols, and introduced idolatry to the nation of Israel. (cf. 1 Kings 12). It is often claimed that God requires too much of us. Is it true? This sermon establishes that what God requires is reasonable and doable for the Christian.

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Chess master Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest chess players in history, has died, a spokesman for the World Chess Federation confirmed to CNN Friday. He was 64.

No cause of death was given.

Fischer became the first American world chess champion when he defeated Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union in a legendary encounter during the Cold War in 1972.

Former Russian chess champion Garry Kasparov said Fischer would be remembered as “the pioneer, some would say the founder, of professional chess” and called his death “very sad news.”

According to media reports in Iceland, Fischer died at a hospital in the capital, Reykjavik. He moved to Iceland after being granted citizenship in 2005.

Fischer became almost as famous for his personality quirks and his renegade behavior as for his brilliance at chess.

He learned to play as a child in Brooklyn, New York, and quickly became a prodigy. He was only 15 when he reached the level of grand master in August, 1958.

— CNN

Analysis:

Bobby Fischer is one in a long list of examples that establish the truthfulness of the wise man’s words in Ecclesiastes 2:17, “Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

The life that Fischer lived was sufficiently significant that his death was reported world wide. His success in playing the game of chess was prodigious and noteworthy, but he was a failure as a man.

Continue reading “In The News: Chess Eccentric Bobby Fischer Dies” →

Cain’s choice to sin, and then to compound his initial sin with others, caused him much anguish in life, and God’s condemnation.

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Israel learned a great deal about the obedience and faithfulness that God requires of His people. We can learn from their example.

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Hebrews 11:4 mentions Abel as one of the patriarchs, who through his good example, though he is dead, still speaks to us. His example of faith as well as that of others (Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Rahab), teach us the need for obedient faith.

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Jesus Christ is our example in obedience, sacrifice and love. We are to obey, live lives of sacrifice, and love one another as we emulate Him.

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Today is the day we are to show our priorities to be in order. God must be first in our lives today, because we do not have assurance of tomorrow.

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I may be a sinner, and unworthy of God’s love and mercy, but he still values me, and desires that I serve him acceptably, that I may attain an eternity in His presence.

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Guest Speaker: Keith Greer. There is an eternal principle that remains true in every age. Succinctly stated, God speaks, Man believes, Man obeys, God saves.

While the particulars of God’s message may change, the principle remains. This is certainly true with regard to God ordained worship.

(Note: This is a two part sermon. This evening sermon covers the last 7 slides of the presentation).

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Guest Speaker: Keith Greer. There is an eternal principle that remains true in every age. Succinctly stated, God speaks, Man believes, Man obeys, God saves.

While the particulars of God’s message may change, the principle remains. This is certainly true with regard to God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

(Note: This is a two part sermon. The morning sermon covers the first 8 slides of the presentation).

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The apostle Paul reveals to us if we are to attain the goal of eternity in heaven, it is required that we make it our aim in life to be pleasing to God (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:7-11).

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Romans 13:1-2

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Governments and nations have their place at God’s pleasure. They remain in power as long as God permits, and their rise and fall is determined by His will. This is clearly affirmed by Paul in his address to the Athenians (cf. Acts 17:26-28).

While a government is in power, Christians are required to submit to its laws. Contrary to common perception, Jesus did not advocate disobedience to civil authorities. This is true regardless of a governments corruptness, or antagonism toward God and His people. This is clearly established by Jesus’ instructions to his disciples to pay taxes to the Roman government (cf. Matt. 22:21).

The exception to this is the secular government’s compelling a Christian to disobey God. In such cases, we must “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

The question, “Must we obey the government?”, is not determined by whether it is corrupt, but whether its laws corrupt us!

The phrase is used numerous times in scripture, indicating the importance of listening to, heeding and obeying Christ and His word.

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